Flooding kills at least 52 in India

By Abdul Gani

GUWAHATI, India (AA) – At least 52 people have died from monsoon flooding in eastern and northeastern India over recent days.

Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh described situation as "grim" when he visited Assam state Saturday to assess the damage, which has affected around 4.4 million people in Assam and Bihar states.

Singh said 26 people had died in Assam and pledged the government's support in relief work, adding that federal and local relief workers along with the army had saved more than 6,000 lives in Assam.

“Life has been very difficult here for the people, especially for the kids. We have been taking shelter here on a temporary relief camp for the last seven days,” Rajeev Gogoi, a father of two whose home in Assam was affected by the floods, told Anadolu Agency.

The death toll in Bihar also increased to 26, according to the state's disaster management department.

A report from the Assam State Disaster Management Authority said 240,680 have been displaced in Assam and are being sheltered in temporary camps set by the authorities.